Christoph Graupner 1683-1760

For nine years a student of Bach's predecessor, Kuhnau, at Leipzig's St. Thomas School, Graupner later studied with his St. Thomas schoolmate, Heinichen. In 1706 he began a three-year appointment as harpsichord player for the Hamburg opera under Keiser. From 1709 Graupner served in the court of Darmstadt where, according to Telemann, he greatly improved the quality of performances. In 1723 Leipzig offered the cantorship of the St. Thomas School to its alumnus (after Telemann had declined and before Bach had accepted); Graupner chose to stay in Darmstadt. Graupner is remembered for his operas, secular cantatas, church sonatas, overtures, concertos, symphonies, and chamber music.